[kona-rider]

I have a Sun Ringle Single Track rim that is slightly bent and was wondering if I can salvage the rim. I originally had it on a shimano qr hub but needed to upgrade it to a 20mm hub. When it got bent I took it to my LBS and he said he could fix it. I guess he just adjusted the spoke tension to true it...not sure if that was the best thing to do or not. So when I just unlaced that wheel to get ready to take it to a different LBS to have the new 20mm hub put on I noticed/remembered that the rim is slightly bent. I wish i would have remembered this because I would have just bought an entire new front wheel. So my real question is can it be straightened and reused or should I suck it up and buy a new rim(which I'd rather not do as a poor college student)?

Thanks
Kyle

 

[Wumpus]

Sure you can build up a bent rim. The problem is that it will take uneven spoke tension at the bend to get it straight. This may cause the wheel to come untrue quicker and ultimately fail sooner.

 

[gonefirefightin]

it depends on how bad the wheel is off. there is really said amount of tweak percentage to make a rim not worth using anymore. but if it takes you more time and money to straighten the rim than to build the wheel I would say ditch it. the last thing you need when lacing any wheel is a crooked rim to start thing off with, other wise you have wasted time, money and parts.

 

[kona-rider]

if i go ahead and rebuild the wheel with the bent rim is there any chance my new hub will be damaged in any way....sorry i'm completely new to wheel building

 

[Quo Fan]

It is entirely possible due to the uneven spoke tension required to true the wheel. If the rim is bent more than about the width of the rim, I would consider getting a new rim.

 

[TheMontashu]

was the rim bent or out of true?

 

[w00dy]

build it up
If the mechanic said it can be done, go for it. Truing is part of the building process so it shouldn't even cost you anything. You won't hurt the hub. If it's too bent to straighten by spoke tension you can always step on it to straighten it out. It's not pretty and it'll never be perfect, but who cares, it's a mountain bike.

Actually, you might care if you're running rim brakes. If you're running discs then it's a non-issue.

 

[kona-rider]

was the rim bent or out of true?

the rim was bent. i had slightly tacoed it a while back and mmy LBS had straightened/trued it by using spoke tension only i think. It wasn't bent too badly though.


woody... i took it to the bike shop today and he said he thought he could do it. and as long as my new hub doesn't get messed up...it cant hurt trying to use this rim.

Thanks for all the help from everyone!

I'll post the results in a day or so.

Thanks again,
Kyle

 

[kona-rider]

well i got a call from my lbs saying that the rim was too bent and they wouldn't build it for me. i really wish i had remembered the rim was bent (I know it sounds like something you think I would have remembered) because then i would have just gotten an entire new wheel.So i guess i am faced with getting a new rim...will be used for a little bit of everything. I'm only taking one bike to college with me as of right now and its my dirtjumper. Should I just get a new Sun Singletrack or is there a better option for cheap as well???

Thanks